António Pedro Santos / LUSA
The Minister of National Defense, Nuno Melo
“I have immense respect for the National Civil Aviation Authority. It turns out that the National Aeronautical Authority is the one who certifies.”
The Minister of National Defense guaranteed that the Black Hawk helicopters which will be acquired by the Air Force can be used for medical emergenciesdetailing that, this year, this equipment have already landed at 25 heliports of the country.
“These Black Hawks have already landed at more than 20 heliports, just north of the Tagus. It’s public, and it’s on video. I can tell you that, day and night, they’ve already landed at 18. And during the day, they’ve already landed at 25. And, therefore, That thing they can’t do is talk. And I ask whoever takes advantage of this misinformation”, stated Nuno Melo.
Asked to clarify whether he was referring to hospital heliports, Nuno Melo responded affirmatively.
The Minister of Defense, speaking to journalists after the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Military Judiciary Police (PJM), in Oeiras, reacted to the newspaper’s report, citing the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), that the four Black Hawk helicopters that the Air Force will acquire for medical evacuation from the seven hospital heliports authorized to receive medical emergency air transport.
When asked how he explained the position taken by the ANAC – which says that the length of the Black Hawk prevents it from landing in six of the seven heliports authorized to receive medical emergency helicopters –, Nuno Melo explained that the person responsible for certifying these helicopters is the National Aeronautical Authority, and that military equipment is excluded from the civil dimension, in which ANAC operates.
The official also assured that “the National Aeronautical Authority has already certified these helicopters to land in all these locations”, detailing that it is this body that also regulates which spaces are where military helicopters can land, if necessary.
“I have immense respect for ANAC, it is an absolutely fundamental entity, it is very correct in the civil dimension. It turns out that in this case, the person certifying is the National Aeronautical Authority and the Convention on International Civil Aviation excludes military aircraft in its article 3. Therefore, it is up to the National Aeronautical Authority to determine the locations where these military helicopters can land”, he considered.
